Baseball History in 1903: The First World Series 1903 Leaders & Numbers 1902 1904 1900s 1903 The First World Series Both the American and National Leagues finally agree to co-exist in peace, leading to an inaugural "world's championship" between the two pennant winners. On January 9, 1903, the hatchet was finally buried. It was on this day in Cincinnati that the powers that be for both the National and American Leagues began the process of co-existing harmoniously, ending two years of bitter fighting. Gone would be the player raids, the cutthroat crosstown rivalries and the clandestine undermining of each other. Although nothing was said about the leagues playing one another—be it as regular season interleague play or postseason competition—the door was certainly propped open more widely than ever for the possibility. Ironically, it was the National League—the established entity of big league baseball—that more or less waved the white flag to the relatively infant American League, singularly run by Ban Johnson.

Talent and attendance had both swayed in favor of the AL, and there was still ongoing pilferage of NL rosters. Jack Chesbro, Jesse Tannehill, Willie Keeler and Sam Crawford had already defected to the junior circuit since the end of the 1902 season, and AL owners were closing in on signing Christy Mathewson, Tommy Leach, Vic Willis and Sam Mertes, among others. To stop the bleeding, the NL decided to put the emergency brakes on the feud and meet with Johnson. Though the Cincinnati talks supposedly provided a level playing field between the leagues, there was no mistaking that Johnson and his AL owners were firmly in charge. The NL magnates gave it the good ol’ college try anyway. Johnson was initially asked by NL executives, led by president Harry Pulliam, to merge the two leagues—eliminating the four AL franchises doing business in NL cities, while allowing the other four to continue as part of a 12-team National League. An incredulous Johnson quickly rejected the idea and walked out, only to return four days later with his own list of demands—many of which he’d get.

Johnson demanded that all existing player contracts be honored, allowing AL teams to hold onto the players snapped up from the NL; in return he would stop the player raids. Johnson also pledged not to follow through on his threat to move the Detroit Tigers to Pittsburgh—but only on the condition that he could move his tampered Baltimore franchise to New York. The NL reluctantly, though not unaminouslyJohn Brush, who helped scuttle the Baltimore Orioles and now owned the New York Giants—where most of the released Orioles wound up—vehemently decried the AL’s move to New York. , agreed to these key issues. Out of the Cincinnati talks came the National Agreement, the bylines of which both leagues would be run; and the National Commission, an executive group of three representatives from both leagues that would rule over the game. The three elected to the Commission were Johnson and two NL executives: Pulliam and Cincinnati Reds owner Garry Herrmann. On the surface, the AL appeared outnumbered 2-to-1 within the Commission, but it was a deceptive facade; Herrmann, a long-time pal of Johnson, brought a more impartial voice to balance out the trio.

The negotiating power and dominating presence of Ban Johnson proved one thing as the new season proceeded in April: It was he who now ran the whole show. The shortest end of the peace stick would not be reserved for the NL, but for the players. They once considered Ban Johnson their savior for thumbing his nose at the reserve clause and encouraging them to jump to his fledgling circuit. But the AL-NL peace treaty also brought agreement by both leagues to respect each other’s roster sovereignty and, therefore, the reserve clause. The players were once again perpetually chained and enslaved to the owners. Of all the teams hit hard by the pre-peace player movement following the 1902 season, no one was hit harder than the Pittsburgh Pirates—ironically, the team that had been least touched by player raids the year before. Defecting to the New York Highlanders were starting pitchers Jack Chesbro and Jesse Tannehill, who combined for 48 of Pittsburgh’s stunning 103 wins in 1902.

The remaining starters—led by Sam Leever (25 wins, seven losses and a league-leading 2.06 earned run average) and Deacon Phillippe (25-9, 2.43 ERA)—helped jumpstart the Pirates from a sluggish start to 1903. Sagging in third place to start June, the Pirates won 15 straight—the first six by shutout, a major league record—to permanently reclaim their standing in first place. The Pirates were able to retain their offensive firepower despite losing three position players (also to the Highlanders); but only one, weak-hitting shortstop Wid Conroy, was a starter in 1902. That was just fine for player-manager Fred Clarke, knowing he had an evolving shortstop who had long proven he could hit: Honus Wagner. Clarke still had his star hitters, again led by Wagner. The Flying Dutchman took another NL batting title with a .355 average, placed second in slugging percentage behind Clarke, and stole 46 bases to boot.

Clarke himself batted .351, while center fielder Ginger Beaumont hit .341 while leading the NL with 137 runs and 209 hits. As his team coasted through the summer on its way to a 6.5-game finish over the second-place Giants, Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss felt comfortable enough that, by August, he had a thought regarding the postseason. Unlike the Pirates, the Boston Americans did not suffer from any talent drainage during the off-season, and with improved results swarmed to the top of the AL. Though they had a solid lineup at the plate, what really impressed opponents was the Boston pitching staff—which, save Nick Altrock’s one-time appearance, consisted the entire season of just five hurlers. At 36 years of age, Cy Young was the AL’s oldest pitcher—and still its best. Though he failed to win 30 games for the first time since joining the AL, Young remained remarkable, winning 28 of 37 decisions while recording a 2.08 earned run average.

Successfully pitching alongside Young were Bill Dinneen, whose 21 wins included six shutouts, and 24-year-old Long Tom Hughes, who added 20 victories after surviving 1902 with the ill-fated Orioles. Offensively, the Americans had plenty of punch—their 48 home runs as a team would be the most in the AL until Babe Ruth exceeded the number all by himself 16 years later. Left fielder Patsy Dougherty, in only his second year, provided excellent leadoff numbers with a .331 batting average, 35 stolen bases and 106 runs scored, while veteran slugger Buck Freeman paced the league with 13 home runs and 104 RBIs. Freeman added other team highs in the extra bases department with 39 doubles and 20 triples. Boston easily knocked off defending AL champion Philadelphia, which actually showed improved pitching thanks to a (almost) full year from Rube WaddellWaddell skipped on the rest of the season after August so he could appear in a stage production of The Stain of Guilt. and an impressive debut for 20-year-old Chief Bender.

It was offense, however, for which the A’s withered, notching nearly 200 fewer runs than in 1902. So the prize of the American League belonged to Boston and its new owner, Henry J. Killilea, a Milwaukee lawyer whose brother Matthew initially owned the Brewers of 1901—before he sold and watched the team move out of Wisconsin to St. Louis. But Henry was having better success with his ownership, and in August the Americans were sitting comfortably atop first place when he received a note from Barney Dreyfuss. The Pittsburgh owner, fully aware that both the Pirates and Americans were likely to win league pennants, proposed to Killilea a postseason series between the two teams to determine the true major league champion. Killilea took it up with Ban Johnson, who shared in the Boston magnate’s delight at the chance to finally face the NL on the field. Though it was the established NL once again coming forward to make the offer, Johnson knew this was not a case of his league having nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Self-assured that he was running the stronger of the two leagues, Johnson gave Killilea approval to go through with the offer—but was also stern in his desire to win. “Play them, and beat them,” Johnson told the Boston owner. “You must beat them.” Dreyfuss and Killilea shook hands on the deal, and when both of their teams completed the regular season at the top of the standings, the “Championship of the United States”—or the World Series, as it would be called later—was on. The Pirates were a tortured team by October. Honus Wagner was suffering from a beat-up right leg. The pitching staff, managing all season with decreased talent, saw its problems magnify. Sam Leever’s arm was sore, reportedly as a result of some trapshooting on the side. More troubling was the story of Ed Doheny, the third man in the rotation. Having seen his career turn around since joining the Pirates in 1901, winning 34 of 46 decisions, Doheny grew mentally unstable—at one point he fled from a game convinced he was being followed by “detectives”—and, shortly before season’s end, entered an insane asylum.

He would remain there for the rest of his life. This forced Deacon Phillippe to become the Pirates’ pitching workhorse during the series. Throughout the best-of-nine set, Phillippe would be called upon to make five starts—taking advantage of travel days and two rain postponements—to pick up the slack of the otherwise burdened staff. Before a zealous, overflow crowd of 16,000 at Boston’s Huntington Grounds on October 1, the Pirates jumped on Cy Young with a two-out, four-run rally in the first inning, allowing Phillippe to coast to a 7-3 Game OneFrom the very beginning, the temptation of fixing worked its way into the World Series: Boston catcher Lou Criger reported to Ban Johnson before Game One that he was approached by a gambler. Curiously, Criger made two errors in the first inning. victory. In victory, Pirates outfielder Jimmy Sebring became a trivia answer for the ages when he hit the World Series’ first-ever home run. But Game Two showed a sign of things to come as an aching Leever lasted but one inning; the Americans evened up Pittsburgh, 3-0, on a three-hit shutout by Bill Dinneen.

After Phillippe started and won the next two games, the Pirates led three games to one with the next three contests slated for Pittsburgh. Hopes seemed few and far between for Boston. But the lack of depth in the Pirates’ pitching rotation reared its ugly head and allowed Boston to jump back and take command of the series. Brickyard Kennedy was shelled in Game Five, 11-2, and in Game Six, Leever managed to throw nine innings but lost to Dinneen, 6-3. When Young toppled Phillippe in Game Seven, 7-3, the Americans headed back to Boston with two games to win one—and the Series. With two days’ rest, the Pirates threw Phillippe at the Americans for his fifth start. But it was Dinneen, making his fourth start, engineering his second series shutout with a 3-0 victory. Ban Johnson got his wish: The Boston Americans, representing the American League, were champions of the first World Series. The Pirates appeared as a shell of their former selves in the series.

Defensively, they were atrocious, committing a glaring 18 errors; 13 of those occurred over the last four games—all losses—leading to 11 unearned runs. Honus Wagner himself made six errors and batted a feeble .222 at the plate—though the latter figure wasn’t too far off par from the Pirates’ team average of .237. Despite the loss, Dreyfuss was thankful enough for his team’s effort that he donated his share of the series gate to his players; each Pirate walked away after defeat with $1,316, not bad wages for the time. Because of Dreyfuss’ generous donation, coupled with Killilea’s refusal to give up his share (to the catcalls of many in the press), Boston players actually wound up earning less ($1,182) than those they had defeated. It was the first, and last, such imbalance in World Series history. Killilea would end up selling the team at year’s end, mimicking the length of his brother’s tenure as major league owner, but surpassing it in results.

Most gratefully for baseball, the World Series finally showed what fans everywhere were wanting to see: A battle of the leagues on the field, not off it. But thanks to the two Johns of New York—McGraw and Brush—there would still be ominous clouds hanging around from the departed storm. Forward to 1904: McGraw v. Johnson The World Series becomes a casualty of a continued feud between two of the games's most powerful men. Back to 1902: Enemies at the Gate Warfare between the American and National Leagues turns brutal with increased player raids and sabotage. The 1900s Page: The Birth of the Modern Age ﻿The established National League and upstart American League battle it out, then make peace to signal in a new and lasting era. Share this page with a friend. Have a comment, question or request? Contact us at This Great Game. © 2017 This Great Game. World Series Boston (AL) defeated Pittsburgh (NL), 5-3.

It Happened in 1903 Tragedy at the Ballpark Twelve are killed and nearly 300 injured when a overhang behind the third-base stands at Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl collapses during the first game of a doubleheader between the Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals on August 8. The overhang had become overloaded when fans gathered to check out a street fight behind the ballpark. It is the deadliest incident related to any major league baseball game. The disaster will keep the Phillies idle for the next 11 days, and they’ll play their remaining home games at Columbia Park (home of the Athletics) while repairs to Baker Bowl are made. Delahanty Falls Washington’s Ed Delahanty is killed under mysterious circumstances near Niagara Falls on July 2. His body is found two days later at the bottom of the falls. Accounts differ over how Delahanty came to fall into the Niagara after being booted off a train—some historians suspect a night watchman on the tracks may have precipitated some foul play—but it was no secret he was desperate to be traded out of last-place Washington; he had become despondent after a deal to send him to the New York Giants fell through.

The 35-year old was batting .338 in 43 games; his death ends a stellar career in which he batted .346 with 2,597 hits. Only four other players will list a higher career batting mark. It’s Always A Win-Win With Iron Joe New York Giants pitcher Joe McGinnity starts—and wins—both ends of a doubleheader three times during the month of August. No other pitcher has won both ends of a twinbill more than twice in an entire career. McGinnity’s daily doubles occur on August 1 at Boston, August 8 at home against Brooklyn, and again at home on August 31 against the Phillies. The 32-year-old workhorse will also set modern National League records by starting 48 games and pitching 434 innings. Catching Up The American League follows the lead of the NL and charges batters with strikes on every foul ball they hit, except when there’s already two strikes in the count. As with the NL in 1901, the rule change’s impact on the AL is telling.

Scoring is down by 17%, and the league batting average drops from .275 to .255. The Gas is Usually More Poisonous Win Mercer, recently named manager of the Detroit Tigers, writes a note in a San Francisco hotel discussing the “evils” of women and gambling. It’s his suicide note; he next inhales poison gas and dies. The 28-year-old Mercer was a nine-year major league veteran, with a 131-164 lifetime record as a pitcher and a .286 batting average in 1,763 at-bats. If You’re Looking for a Silver Lining, Forget It Cleveland shortstop John Gochnauer muffs through an all-time AL record 98 errors. His fielding percentage is at .869, though that’s not as bad as the effort of Baltimore’s Bill Keister (.851 fielding average on 97 errors) in 1901. You might think the Blues are playing Gochnauer for his bat; not so. His .185 average (with no home runs) is the season’s lowest by any AL starting regular.

Needless to say, it is Gochnauer’s last year in the majors. More Errata The Chicago White Stockings tie a major league record by committing 12 errors in one game on May 6. Detroit adds six to set an all-time mark for the most errors by both teams in one game, at 18. The White Stockings overcome the dozen errors and a 9-7, ninth-inning deficit to beat the Tigers, 10-9, at Chicago. Darn That Kid On August 1, Rube Waddell of the Philadelphia Athletics goes the distance and allows four hits against the New York Highlanders; all four hits are by Kid Elberfeld, setting an AL mark for most hits by one player while his teammates collect none. Elberfeld’s hits—and six walks given up by Waddell—lead to a 3-2 Highlanders victory over the A’s. Shutting Out… The Pittsburgh Pirates toss a major league record six straight shutouts from June 2-6. It is the beginning of an overall 15-game winning streak in which Pirates pitching will allow a total of 20 runs.

Deacon Phillippe and Sam Leever are each credited with two of the six shutouts. …But Not Shut Out The Boston Americans score in a major league record 17 straight innings over three games, September 15-17. They set the record on the day they clinch the AL pennant, a 14-3 home rout over Cleveland. Taking the Midnight Thrill Ride to St. Louie Shortly after midnight on August 29, a charter train carrying the St. Louis Browns and the Cleveland Blues derails after jumping an open switch near Napoleon, Ohio. The Blues’ sleeper car lands upside down off the track, while the Browns’ car settles on its side. Amazingly, no one is killed or even seriously hurt, although some players suffer minor-to-moderate injuries—most notably a bruised knee for Nap Lajoie. The Sporting News reports that the “shock was the worst in (the players’) experience.” Black Jack After losing in a start against the White Stockings in a postseason exhibition game, the Cubs’ Jack Taylor is asked why he lost. Taylor responds: “Why should I win?

I get $100 for winning and $500 for losing.” The Cubs do the math and come to the elementary conclusion that something fishy is going on; they soon after convince the St. Louis Cardinals to take Taylor in a trade that will bring Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown to Chicago. Caught on Film The first known moving picture footage of a major league game is shot during a postseason series between the Cleveland Blues and the Cincinnati Reds. Hilltop Park, New York Located on the highest point in all of Manhattan, Hilltop Park was an architecturally unremarkable facility with a remarkable prescript. Insatiable in his quest to get into New York City, AL President Ban Johnson finally brought the Baltimore Orioles there—but in trying to secure a ballpark site, he ran into major political roadblocks with connections to the NL’s Giants, the owner (John Brush) and manager (John McGraw) of which bitterly detested Johnson and the AL. New York is simply too big a town for one to control all, so Johnson eventually cultivated enough power brokers on his side to get control of land at the extreme north end of Manhattan to build Hilltop Park.

Hastily and cheaply built—it was put up in six weeks for $75,000—Hilltop Park sat 16,000 fans and featured a typically expansive outfield for the times; even the mightiest of sluggers couldn’t think of reaching the center-field fence, located 542 feet away from home. The ballpark that the Giants desperately prevented from being built would actually become their foster home in 1912 when the Polo Grounds burned down. The ensuing thaw in Highlanders-Giants relations allowed the Highlanders to leave for the rebuilt Polo Grounds in 1913; Hilltop Park would be demolished within a year. The Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center now sits on its site. This Great Game Tooltip As shown in the example above, move your mouse over any hyperlink with a dotted underline to instantly see more information on the topic at hand.

1903 World Series by Baseball Almanac 1903 World Series Boston Americans (5) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (3) In an effort to end a bitter two year rivalry and promote unity in baseball, the veteran National League and newly established American League decided to bury the hatchet and come together for a new kind of season finale. Nine years earlier, the two top teams in the National League competed in an experimental post-season championship in which Boston beat Pittsburgh five games to three. In 1903, both teams (now in separate leagues) found themselves competing against one another in the first official "World Series". Echoing the 1894 proposal of owner William C. Temple, Pittsburgh's Barney Dreyfuss and Boston's Henry Killilea agreed that their ballclubs, who were both pennant winners, should meet in a best-of-nine playoff series for the "World Championship." The spectacle would represent the first step towards a mutual reconciliation for years of open hostilities and blatant player raids. The Pirates, who had just won their third consecutive pennant, were the perfect representatives for the veteran Nationals.

Their rivals, the Americans, had won their flag by 14� games and represented the fledgling Americans who were still trying to establish themselves as a worthy competitor. Game 1 of the series proved to be a complete success as fans were treated to the best baseball that both leagues had to offer. The Pirates played exceptionally well on both sides of the ball as Deacon Phillippe pitched a six hitter and right fielder Jimmy Sebring hit the first home run in World Series history. He alone drove in four runs for a 7-3 victory. Game 2 did not disappoint either as Boston mirrored Pittsburgh's previous performance. They evened the series when Bill Dinneen threw a three-hitter and Patsy Dougherty walloped two homers in a 3-0 triumph. Pittsburgh's pitching staff, ravaged by illness and injuries, forced the Pirates to start Phillippe again in Game 3 after only one day of rest. The veteran workhorse, a twenty-five game winner during the regular season, rose to the challenge allowing only four hits in a 4-2 win. Three days later, Pittsburgh went to their dependable ace for a third time and backed him up with reinforcements who came out swinging.

Third basemen, Tommy Leach, knocked in three runs while Honus Wagner and Ginger Beaumont each collected three hits. Boston was unable to answer and Pittsburgh led the series three games to one. Boston was down, but far from out. Cy Young, a veteran, twenty-eight game winner was called upon to cool off the Pirates in Game 5 and that's exactly what he did. Pittsburgh never knew what hit them. Young yielded only six hits and drove in three runs in an 11-2 runaway. The following day, Game 2 winner Bill Dinneen maintained Boston's momentum with a 6-3 victory in a contest that featured four hits, two RBIs and two stolen bases by the losing Pirates. The series was now tied at three games each. Deacon Phillippe, who was undefeated in the series, took the mound for the Pirates in Game 7. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, all good things must come to an end. The Americans' playing manager Jimmy Collins and Chick Stahl knocked him for first inning triples and Boston bolted to an early 2-0 lead en route to a 7-3 triumph. For the first time, the Americans had seized the Series lead.

Ahead four games to three, Boston would attempt to nail down the championship on its own Huntington Avenue Grounds. Game 8 looked to be a pitchers duel as Dinneen and Phillippe went head to head to a scoreless tie through the first three innings. Boston managed to get on the board twice in the fourth and again in the sixth. Phillippe battled on and would end up pitching his fifth complete game in the Series, which lasted thirteen days, but Dinneen bested him in the climactic finale, tossing his second shutout of the Series and notching his third victory. The 3-0 decision was the Americans fourth straight triumph and made the upstart Boston team champions of the First American League vs. National League World Series. With great pitching dominating the play, hitters obviously had a rough time at the plate. Boston batted .252 while Pittsburgh, despite the presence of National League batting champion Honus Wagner, hit .237.

"I thought I had to show all my stuff and I almost tore the boards off the grandstand with my fastball." - Hall of Famer (and winner of two of the three games he started in the 1903 World Series) Cy Young 1903 World Series Boston Americans (5) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (3) 1903 World Series Fast Facts Game 1 History of Major League Baseball Teams About Me Tags History of Major League Baseball Teams written by Claire J Rottenberg Arizona Diamondbacks One of the two newest teams in major league baseball, the Arizona Diamondbacks, was established as a National League expansion team in 1998. The team has had a very successful, short history, winning four National League West division titles, one National League pennant and one World Series in only 11 years. The Diamondback's last win was in 2007 when the team won the National League West division title. [ read more... ] Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves team is one of the oldest teams in baseball, first being established in 1871 as the Boston Red Stockings.

The team has always been a part of the National League but it has called three cities home over its long history and it has had eight name changes since its beginnings over 135 years ago. [ read more... ] Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles, a powerful force in major league baseball in the late 1960s and 1970s, has not won a World Series or American League pennant since 1983. They won the Wild Card in 1996 and the AL East division in 1997, but those were the team's only post-season wins in the last 26 years. [ read more... ] Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox team has been a powerhouse in baseball the last six years, winning four American League championship series and two World Series. The team, which began in 1901, had victories early in its career but it didn't win a World Series from 1918 until 2004. [ read more... ] Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs team is one of the oldest baseball teams in the major leagues.

The team started in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings and it went through several name changes until 1902 when it became the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have not won a World Series in 100 years and the last National League pennant the team won was in 1945. The Cubs did, however, make it to the National League division series in 2007 and last year, after winning the National League East division title both seasons. [ read more... ] Chicago White Sox Although the Chicago White Sox started in 1901 as a strong team, it took them over 80 years to win a World Series after their first two wins. The team has been strong in this century, winning three American League Central division titles (2000, 2005, 2008) and one American League pennant (2005) and one World Series (2005) since 2000. [ read more... ] Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds, one of baseball's oldest teams, is probably best known for its winning "Big Red Machine" team of the 1970s.

In recent years, the Reds have struggled and the team has not seen post-season play since 1995. The origins of the modern-day Cincinnati Reds began with the third Cincinnati Red Stockings team that was established in 1882. The first Red Stockings team eventually became the Braves and the second team with that name was expelled from baseball in 1880. [ read more... ] Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Indians have won several American League Central division titles in the last decade, but it has been over 60 years since the team won a World Series. Although the team has been a member of the American League since 1901, the Indians have won only 2 World Series (1920, 1948) and 5 American League pennants (1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997). [ read more... ] Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies team, one of the newest teams in major league baseball, has had some success in its short 16 year history.

Established in 1993 as a National League West division franchise, the team has already won two National League Wild Card spots (1995, 2007) and a National League pennant (2007). However, the Rockies have not yet won a National League West division title or a World Series. [ read more... ] Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers team, established in 1901, is one of only a few major league baseball teams that has had only one name and one city in its history. The Tigers had a successful early start, winning three American League pennants in their first decade, but the team has struggled in recent years, with only one pennant win in the last 24 years. [ read more... ] Florida Marlins The Florida Marlins, one of major league baseball's younger teams, has won the World Series twice in its 16 year playing history. Both times they won a position in post-season play by winning the National League Wild Card. [ read more... ] Houston Astros The Houston Astros, established in 1962 as the Colt .45s, have never won a World Series but they have played in postseason games eight times since 1980.

Their last postseason games were in 2005 when they won the National League Wild Card spot and their only National League pennant. [ read more... ] Kansas City Royals From 1976 to 1985, the Kansas City Royals team was one of the best teams in major league baseball, winning six American League West division titles (1976-1978, 1980, 1984, 1985), two American League pennants (1980, 1985) and one World Series (1985). However, the Royals have not seen post-season play since their 1985 World Series win. [ read more... ] Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have dominated the American League West division for the past five years, winning the title in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008. Last year, they managed to earn the title by September 10th. However, despite their strong showings in the American League West division, the Angels have not been able to win a pennant since 2002.

[ read more... ] Los Angeles Dodgers The Dodgers have had 9 different names in their almost 120 year history. Their winning history also has large numbers - 6 World Series titles, 21 National League pennants, 10 West division titles, and 2 Wild Card wins. Last season, with the acquisition of Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers were able to win the National League West division title but it has been 20 years since they won their last pennant race. [ read more... ] Milwaukee Brewers The modern Milwaukee Brewers should not be confused with the original Milwaukee Brewers of 1901 that eventually became the Baltimore Orioles. The modern-day Brewers began in Seattle in 1968 as the Seattle Pilots. However, they only played in the major leagues for one year, 1969, and then, after extensive negotiations, maneuverings and ownership changes, they moved to Milwaukee and the team's name changed to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers started off badly, and ended their first season in Milwaukee with a 65-97 record. [ read more... ] Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins, like several other major league baseball teams, did not start out in Minnesota or as the Twins.

From 1901 to 1960, they were usually known as the Washington Senators and occasionally referred to as the Washington Nationals. They moved to Minneapolis in 1961 and because the Minnesota Twins. In their 60 years in Washington, the team won only one World Series (1924) and three American League pennants (1924, 1925, 1933). [ read more... ] New York Mets In 1962, the New York Mets filled the void in New York baseball that resulted from the moves of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants to the West Coast. Seven years later, the Miracle Mets brought back World Series excitement to New York. [ read more... ] New York Yankees The New York Yankees have won more World Series than any other baseball team, winning 26 World Series from 1923 to 2000. They also won 39 American League pennants between 1921 and 2003.

The New York Yankees were the American League East division leaders every year from 1998 to 2006, and they won the American League Wild Card in 1995, 1997 and 2007. [ read more... ] Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics, often referred to as the Oakland A’s, one of the four official names the team has had, began in Philadelphia in 1901. Fifty-five years later, they moved to Kansas City and in 1968, they moved to Oakland, California. The A’s have had a long career of successes, except for a 40 year dry spell from 1931 until 1971, when the team did not play in any post-season games. Over their 108 year span, the Oakland Athletics have won 1 Wild Card spot (2001), 14 American League West division titles, 15 American League pennants, and 9 World Series. [ read more... ] Philadelphia Phillies Although the Philadelphia Phillies were established in 1883, it took them almost 100 years to finally win a World Series.

The last two years, after a 15 year stretch of no post-season play, the Phillies won the National League East division title and last year, they won their second World Series. The Philadelphia Phillies started as the Quakers in 1883, but they were soon known as the Phillies and the new name became official in 1890. The original team started off poorly and they did not win a National League pennant until 1915. The Phillies failed, however, after their 1915 win to record more than one winning season from 1916 to 1948. [ read more... ] Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates have won five World Series championships in their long history. However, the team that once dominated the National League Eastern division has not played in post-season games since 1992 and it has not won a pennant or World Series in 30 years. [ read more... ] San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres have not been very successful since their first season in 1969. They have won five National League West division titles but only two National League pennants (1984, 1998) and no World Series.

Although they won the National League West division title in 2005 and 2006 and they had a winning season in 2007, the Padres ended up in fifth place last season, 21 games behind the National League West division leader, the Los Angeles Dodgers. [ read more... ]< San Francisco Giants Since moving to San Francisco in 1958, the Giants have won 6 National League West division titles and 1 National League Wild Card spot, but only 3 National League pennants and no World Series. In contrast, the New York Giants won 17 National League pennants and 5 World Series from 1888 through 1957. The San Francisco Giants fared better in the last decade, winning the National League West division title in 2000 and 2003, the Wild Card spot in 2002, and the National League pennant in 2002. [ read more... ] Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners have not been very successful in their 33 year history.

They did not win any post-season series in their first 19 years and, since 1995, the Mariners have won only three American League West Division titles and one American League Wild Card spot. Their last win was in 2001. [ read more... ] St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals, first established as a team in 1882, have won more World Series (10) than any other National League team. Only the New York Yankees, with 26 wins, have more World Series championship titles. The Cardinals' first win was in 1926 and their last World Series title, and post-season play, came in 2006. In those 80 years, the Cardinals also won 17 National League pennants, 7 National League Central Division titles, and 3 National League East Division titles. [ read more... ] Tampa Bay Rays Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays, after 10 years in major league baseball, won the American League pennant, under the leadership of their manager, Joe Maddon.

The Rays managed to go from a 66-96 win-loss record in 2007 to a 97-65 record in 2008 and the team that had consistently been at the bottom of its division was playing in the World Series. [ read more... ] Texas Rangers Although the Texas Rangers team has been around for almost 50 years, it has a largely unsuccessful history, having won only three American League West division titles and no pennant races or World Series in all that time. However, this year may change that situation as the current team appears to be one of the strongest of the 2009 season. [ read more... ] Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays team, formed in 1977 and based in Canada, is currently the only non-US team in major league baseball. The Blue Jays won two consecutive World Series in the 1990s, but they have not seen post-season play since their second win in 1993. [ read more... ] Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals began as the Montreal Expos in 1969, but changed their name and country when they moved to Washington in 2005.

They have been the least successful team in major league baseball, winning only one division title as the Expos in 1981 and winning no pennant races and no World Series. [ read more...

] 1960 World Series - Pittsburgh Pirates over New York Yankees (4-3) | Baseball-Reference.com Game 1 / Box Score and Play-By-Play Wednesday, October 5, 1960 at Forbes Field (Pittsburgh Pirates) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - New York Yankees 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 13 2 Pittsburgh Pirates 3 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 x 6 8 0 PITCHERS: NYY - Ditmar, Coates (1), Maas (5), Duren (7) PIT - Law, Face (8) WP - Vern Law LP - Art Ditmar SAVE - Roy Face HOME RUNS: NYY - Howard, Maris PIT - Mazeroski ATTENDANCE: 36,676 Game 2 / Box Score and Play-By-Play Thursday, October 6, 1960 at Forbes Field (Pittsburgh Pirates) 1 2 3 4

 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - New York Yankees 0 0 2 1 2 7 3 0 1 16 19 1 Pittsburgh Pirates 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 13 1 PITCHERS: NYY - Turley, Shantz (9) PIT - Friend, Green (5), Labine (6), Witt (6), Gibbon (7), Cheney (9) WP - Bob Turley LP - Bob Friend SAVE - Bobby Shantz HOME RUNS: NYY - Mantle (2) PIT - none ATTENDANCE: 37,308 Game 3 / Box Score and Play-By-Play Saturday, October 8, 1960 at Yankee Stadium I (New York Yankees) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - Pittsburgh Pirates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 New York Yankees

 6 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 x 10 16 1 PITCHERS: PIT - Mizell, Labine (1), Green (1), Witt (4), Cheney (6), Gibbon (8) NYY - Ford WP - Whitey Ford LP - Vinegar Bend Mizell SAVE - none HOME RUNS: PIT - none NYY - Mantle, Richardson ATTENDANCE: 70,001 Game 4 / Box Score and Play-By-Play Sunday, October 9, 1960 at Yankee Stadium I (New York Yankees) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - Pittsburgh Pirates 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 7 0 New York Yankees 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 8 0 PITCHERS: PIT - Law, Face (7) NYY - Terry, Shantz (7), Coates (8) WP - Vern Law LP - Ralph Terry SAVE - Roy

 Face HOME RUNS: PIT - none NYY - Skowron ATTENDANCE: 67,812 Game 5 / Box Score and Play-By-Play Monday, October 10, 1960 at Yankee Stadium I (New York Yankees) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - Pittsburgh Pirates 0 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 10 2 New York Yankees 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 2 PITCHERS: PIT - Haddix, Face (7) NYY - Ditmar, Arroyo (2), Stafford (3), Duren (8) WP - Harvey Haddix LP - Art Ditmar SAVE - Roy Face HOME RUNS: PIT - none NYY - Maris ATTENDANCE: 62,753 Game 6 / Box Score and Play-By-Play Wednesday, October 12, 1960 at Forbes Field (Pittsburgh Pirates) 1 2 

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - New York Yankees 0 1 5 0 0 2 2 2 0 12 17 1 Pittsburgh Pirates 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 PITCHERS: NYY - Ford PIT - Friend, Cheney (3), Mizell (4), Green (6), Labine (6), Witt (9) WP - Whitey Ford LP - Bob Friend SAVE - none HOME RUNS: NYY - none PIT - none ATTENDANCE: 38,580 Game 7 / Box Score and Play-By-Play Thursday, October 13, 1960 at Forbes Field (Pittsburgh Pirates) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - New York Yankees 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 2 2 9 13 1 Pittsburgh Pirates 2 2 0 0 

0 0 0 5 1 10 11 0 PITCHERS: NYY - Turley, Stafford (2), Shantz (3), Coates (8), Terry (8) PIT - Law, Face (6), Friend (9), Haddix (9) WP - Harvey Haddix LP - Ralph Terry SAVE - none HOME RUNS: NYY - Berra, Skowron PIT - Mazeroski, Nelson, Smith ATTENDANCE: 36,683 See Front Page for time of last update Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet .

Total Zone Rating and Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith of BaseballProjection.com . Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of 24-7 Baseball . Some defensive statistics Copyright BIS, 2010-2016 . Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Many thanks to him. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Play Index Loading Photos from the George Grantham Bain Collection at the Library of Congress. List of MLB World Series Champions - Major League Baseball Champions by Year Write for Us List of MLB World Series Champions Each year (with the exception of 1904 and 1994), the American League Champion and the National League champion square off in the World Series. The World Series is played in a best of 7 format with the World Series Champion team receiving what is known as the Commissioner’s Trophy. Somewhat controversially, the home field advantage for the World Series does not go to the team with the best record, but rather the team representing the league that won the All-Star Game.

This method of determining home field advantage began in the 2003 World Series and continues currently. To date, the American League has won 63 World Series titles and the National League, 48. The New York Yankees have appeared in (40) and won (27) the most World Series of any team. A distant second is the St. Louis Cardinals who have won 11 World Series Championships. 2011 World Series – The St. Louis Cardinals Defeated the Texas Rangers 4–3 2010 World Series – The San Francisco Giants Defeated the Texas Rangers 4–1 2009 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4–2 2008 World Series – The Philadelphia Phillies Defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4–1 2007 World Series – The Boston Red Sox Defeated the Colorado Rockies 4–0 2006 World Series – The St. Louis Cardinals Defeated the Detroit Tigers 4–1 2005 World Series – The Chicago White Sox Defeated the Houston Astros 4–0 2004 World Series – The Boston Red Sox Defeated the St.

Louis Cardinals 4–0 2003 World Series – The Florida Marlins Defeated the New York Yankees 4–2 2002 World Series – The Anaheim Angels Defeated the San Francisco Giants 4–3 2001 World Series – The Arizona Diamondbacks Defeated the New York Yankees 4–3 2000 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the New York Mets 4–1 1999 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Atlanta Braves 4–0 1998 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the San Diego Padres 4–0 1997 World Series – The Florida Marlins Defeated the Cleveland Indians 4–3 1996 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Atlanta Braves 4–2 1995 World Series – The Atlanta Braves Defeated the Cleveland Indians 4–2 1994 World Series – There was no World Series Played 1993 World Series – The Toronto Blue Jays Defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4–2 1992 World Series – The Toronto Blue Jays Defeated the Atlanta Braves 4–2 199

1 World Series – The Minnesota Twins Defeated the Atlanta Braves 4–3 1990 World Series – The Cincinnati Reds Defeated the Oakland Athletics 4–0 1989 World Series – The Oakland Athletics Defeated the San Francisco Giants 4–0 1988 World Series – The Los Angeles Dodgers Defeated the Oakland Athletics 4–1 1987 World Series – The Minnesota Twins Defeated the St.

Louis Cardinals 4–3 1986 World Series – The New York Mets Defeated the Boston Red Sox 4–3 1985 World Series – The Kansas City Royals Defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4–3 1984 World Series – The Detroit Tigers Defeated the San Diego Padres 4–1 1983 World Series – The Baltimore Orioles Defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4–1 1982 World Series – The St.

Louis Cardinals Defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4–3 1981 World Series – The Los Angeles Dodgers Defeated the New York Yankees 4–2 1980 World Series – The Philadelphia Phillies Defeated the Kansas City Royals 4–2 1979 World Series – The Pittsburgh Pirates Defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4–3 1978 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4–2 1977 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4–2 1976 World Series – The Cincinnati Reds Defeated the New York Yankees 4–0 1975 World Series – The Cincinnati Reds Defeated the Boston Red Sox 4–3 1974 World Series – The Oakland Athletics Defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4–1 1973 World Series – The Oakland Athletics Defeated the New York Mets 4–3 1972 World Series – The Oakland Athletics Defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4–3 1971 World Series – The Pittsburgh Pirates Defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4–3 1970 World Series – The Baltimore Orioles Defeated the

 Cincinnati Reds 4–1 1969 World Series – The New York Mets Defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4–1 1968 World Series – The Detroit Tigers Defeated the St.

Louis Cardinals 4–3 1967 World Series – The St. Louis Cardinals Defeated the Boston Red Sox 4–3 1966 World Series – The Baltimore Orioles Defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4–0 1965 World Series – The Los Angeles Dodgers Defeated the Minnesota Twins 4–3 1964 World Series – The St.

Louis Cardinals Defeated the New York Yankees 4–3 1963 World Series – The Los Angeles Dodgers Defeated the New York Yankees 4–0 1962 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the San Francisco Giants 4–3 1961 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4–1 1960 World Series – The Pittsburgh Pirates Defeated the New York Yankees 4–3 1959 World Series – The Los Angeles Dodgers Defeated the Chicago White Sox 4–2 1958 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Milwaukee Braves 4–3 1957 World Series – The Milwaukee Braves Defeated the New York Yankees 4–3 1956 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 4–3 1955 World Series – The Brooklyn Dodgers Defeated the New York Yankees 4–3 1954 World Series – The New York Giants Defeated the Cleveland Indians 4–0 1953 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 4–2 1952 World Series – The New

 York Yankees Defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 4–3 1951 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the New York Giants 4–2 1950 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4–0 1949 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 4–1 1948 World Series – The Cleveland Indians Defeated the Boston Braves 4–2 1947 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 4–3 1946 World Series – The St.

Louis Cardinals Defeated the Boston Red Sox 4–3 1945 World Series – The Detroit Tigers Defeated the Chicago Cubs 4–3 1944 World Series – The St. Louis Cardinals Defeated the St. Louis Browns 4–2 1943 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4–1 1942 World Series – The St.

Louis Cardinals Defeated the New York Yankees 4–1 1941 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 4–1 1940 World Series – The Cincinnati Reds Defeated the Detroit Tigers 4–3 1939 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4–0 1938 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Chicago Cubs 4–0 1937 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the New York Giants 4–1 1936 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the New York Giants 4–2 1935 World Series – The Detroit Tigers Defeated the Chicago Cubs 4–2 1934 World Series – The St. Louis Cardinals Defeated the Detroit Tigers 4–3 1933 World Series – The New York Giants Defeated the Washington Senators 4–1 1932 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Chicago Cubs 4–0 1931 World Series – The St.

Louis Cardinals Defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 4–3 1930 World Series – The Philadelphia Athletics Defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4–2 1929 World Series – The Philadelphia Athletics Defeated the Chicago Cubs 4–1 1928 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4–0 1927 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 4–0 1926 World Series – The St.

Louis Cardinals Defeated the New York Yankees 4–3 1925 World Series – The Pittsburgh Pirates Defeated the Washington Senators 4–3 1924 World Series – The Washington Senators Defeated the New York Giants 4–3 1923 World Series – The New York Yankees Defeated the New York Giants 4–2 1922 World Series – The New York Giants Defeated the New York Yankees 4–0 1921 World Series – The New York Giants Defeated the New York Yankees 5–3 1920 World Series – The Cleveland Indians Defeated the Brooklyn Robins 5–2 1919 World Series – The Cincinnati Reds Defeated the Chicago White Sox 5–3 1918 World Series – The Boston Red Sox Defeated the Chicago Cubs 4–2 1917 World Series – The Chicago White Sox Defeated the New York Giants 4–2 1916 World Series – The Boston Red Sox Defeated the Brooklyn Robins 4–1 1915 World Series – The Boston Red Sox Defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4–1 1914 World Series – The

 Boston Braves Defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 4–0 1913 World Series – The Philadelphia Athletics Defeated the New York Giants 4–1 1912 World Series – The Boston Red Sox Defeated the New York Giants 4–3 1911 World Series – The Philadelphia Athletics Defeated the New York Giants 4–2 1910 World Series – The Philadelphia Athletics Defeated the Chicago Cubs 4–1 1909 World Series – The Pittsburg Pirates Defeated the Detroit Tigers 4–3 1908 World Series – The Chicago Cubs Defeated the Detroit Tigers 4–1 1907 World Series – The Chicago Cubs Defeated the Detroit Tigers 4–0 1906 World Series – The Chicago White Sox Defeated the Chicago Cubs 4–2 1905 World Series – The New York Giants Defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 4–1 1904 World Series – There was no World Series Played 1903 World Series – The Boston Americans Defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5–3 Find Awesome Stuff

Question: Which team won baseball's first World Series of the 60s?
Answer: Pittsburg Pirates